alzheimers

The brain, and the effects of aging, are still widely misunderstood. But new research reported by researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center sheds light on something new and different, a drainage system that periodically washes the brain down. They discovered that in a healthy brain, cerebrospinal fluid circulates constantly, washing out proteins that build up and might lead to Alzheimer’s. The proteins are carried away through the cells and into the body, where they can be harmlessly absorbed. The researchers called the cleaning system the “glymphatic system,” because it’s similar to the lymphatic system and facilitated by glial cells. [continue reading…]